Electric sign.



9, 7 m 0 o v o o o o 0 o 0 u vo o w 2 v o 0% M Q o wn o wow 0 v 0000 o 3 E b a N1 000000 0 0000 M U 0. .I. saw 0 "a7 .nfi +u 000000 00 230/ \u H0 0 W w 0 H, o 0 a M w 0 o o 0 0 0 o v o. o o 0 0 m Q t 0 HAYOOFOOO W. BECKE.

v ELECTRIC SIGN. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5.1914;

. Pafientd Oct. 31,1916.

7 SHEETSISHEET 4.

Y V 51w am/50 v William 66/66, @351 his wow/14? W. RECKE.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEEM 1914.

Patented 0111. 31, 1916.

TSHEETS-SHEET 6 EETQW W. RECKE.

ELECTRIC SIGN. AVPPUCATION FILED 1UNE5, 1914.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

'7 SHEETS-SHEET 7- carried by a substance duced by UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM RECKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM RECKE, a subject of the Czar of Russia, and residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signs, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention'relates to electric signs or display apparatus, and the object thereof is to provide an apparatus of this class which is so constructed as to produce a moving picture or moving pictures similar to those produced by the cinematograph; a further object being to produce shade eflects in said pictures; and with these and other objects in view the invention consists in an apparatus of the class specified, constructed and operating as hereinafter described and claimed.

The illusion of a moving picture as prothe cinematograph requires extremely rapid changes of pictures, which are possible inthat moving picture machine because the pictures to be changed require space less than an inch square each, and are of insignificant weight and minute thickness. But to change pictures contained by a sheet of metal or paperin the same manner would be quite a different proposition, when the fact is considered that it takes a field of thousands of lamps to produce even the simplest design in relief line arrangement distinguishably. Were the lamp circuits to terminate at the said sheet the resulting heavy wires and, heavy insulation required by safety regulations would demand a terminal'plate many inches square, which distance would have to he jumped by the sheet at each change of pictures. And were the mitting a smooth travel of the sheet, the

' proposition wouldhardlybe less difficult on account of the weight of the jumping parts.

' tion be interrupted between the Moreover, in either case would the illuminachanges to an extent as, to render the resulting moving "picture indistinct,if not invisible. 'Thearrangement of the terminals,

however, essential as it is impossible to place them all in a, single row or in a few rows practically.

j The present invention overcomes all the Specification of Letters Patent.

especially section on the line 1818 plate to make the jumps thus perin squares is,

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

Application filed June 5, 1914. Serial No. 843,267.

involving my invention and on the line 11 of Fig.2; Fig. 2a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a section on the line'3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a partial section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 a view looking in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 2 and showing only part of the construction; Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views of contact devices or flashers which I employ; Fig. 8 a length of a film which I employ; Figs. 9, 9 9", 9 and 9 are views of parts of the film showing difierent ways of marking the same; Fig. 10a plan view of an electricaldisplay sign; Fig. 11 -a. plan view of a magnet supporting board; Fig. 12 a plan ,view of a contact supporting board; Fig. 13 a detail sectional view of an improved magnet which I employ; Fig. 14 a diagrammatic view showing the various parts of view-similar to Fig. 14 but showing only a part of the construction shown in said figvarious parts of the construction and showing a modification; Fig. 17 a section on the line 17- -17 of Fig. 16; Fig. 18 an enlarged of Fig. 16; Fig. 19 a'section on'the-line 19.19 of Fig. 18; Fig. 20 a view similar to Fig. 16 but showing only a. part of the construction and showingthe same in section; Fig. 21 a diegrammatic view of the circuit employed in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 16' to 19 inclusive; Fig. 22 a view similar to Fig. 14 but showinga modification; Fig. 23 a view combining Figs. 14, 16 and 22 and showing additional features of construction for producing shade effects; Fig. 24 a view similar to Fig. 10 and indicating the production of shade efl'ects.

In Figs. 1 to 14 inclusive, I have shown a simple form of my construction and in Figs. 1 to 5 I have shown the operative mechanism and in said last named figures,

tive mechanism, said frame being composed in a simple and prac-' electrical operation of the my invention; Fig. 15 a of vertical side members connected at the top as shown at a and at the bottom by a cross bar a Pivoted within the frame a and to the top a as shown at a is atubular arm a provided adjacent to its lower end with an adjustable contact plate a in which is mounted a plurality of contacts a with which are connected a corresponding number of wlres a Secured to the lower end of said tubular arm a is ablock provided with a downwardly .directed arm a? with the lower end of which is rotatably connected aroller a. Mounted between the contact plate a and the said block is a vertically movable plate 6 provided at each side with projecting arms with which are adjustablv connected operating rods 6 and Z and the rods 1) are connected with one end of a long rock bar pivoted centrally of the top of the frame a at b The rods 1) are connected with one end of a short rock bar I) pivoted at one side of the top'of the frame as shown at 6 Secured to the top of the vertically movable plate 6 is a flexible pad 6 and adjustablv connected with the long rock bar 6 is a rod 6 and adjustably connected with the short rock bar I) is a rod 6.

Rotatably mounted in the frame a is a main shaft 0 on one end of which is secured a pulley around which is passed a belt 0 which is also passed around a pulley on-the shaft of a motor 0 and secured centrally of said shaft is a grooved cam wheel 0 adapted to rotate with'said shaft. and the roller a of the arm a is adapted to operate in the groove of the Said cam wheel 0, or be operated thereby when the same rotates, and this operation will oscillate the tubular arm a as will be understood. Secured to the shaft 0 are three contact blocks orflashers 0 0 and 0 having metal faces a and secured to the bar a at the bottom of the frame are brushes 0 arranged in pairs, each pair operating in connection with the flashers c and c. The flasher c is shown in Fig. 7, and Fig. 6'shows the flasher c which is similar to the flasher c. The end of the-shaft c with which the belt 0 is con- 1 nected is provided with a cam block 0 which operates in connection with a roller 0 secured to an arm 0 pivoted to the frame at 0 and the rods b and I) are connected with the free end of said arm 0. as clearly shown in Fig. 4. and by means of this construction the plate 1) receives its vertical movement at each revolution of the shaft 0. The other end of the shaft 0 is provided with a pinion 0 and mounted above and at one side of the shaft 0 is a supplemental shaft cl on one end of which is secured agear (I which meshes with a gear (1 secured to a stub shaft d mounted below the shaft 0, and on which is also mounted another gear which meshes with the pinion or small gear 0 of the shaft 0, and by means of this gearing the shaft 0 rotates six times to one rotation of the shaft (Z.

Mounted on the shaft (Z centrallythereof is a wide film wheel d provided adjacent to its ends with a plurality of teeth or projections cl, and in the construction shown, I provide a plurality of guide rollers (Z the arrangement of which is clearly shown in Fig. 1, and passed around the film wheel 03 and the guide rollers (Z is an endless film d preferably composed of sheet metal, and

the side edges of which are provided with apertures cl in which the teeth or projections cl of the wheel 616 operate.

In Fig. 9 of the drawing, I have shown the or projection will not touch the contact designated for it, it will touch the next contact thus shifting the whole picture one lamp, provided the contacts are arranged exactly like the lamps, as shown in F igs.10 I

and 12 and the markings, in case'of a relief line picture, are arranged in exactly the form to be produced on the display device 7. In F ig; 9 I have shown a modification of the arrangement of matter or markings on said film which consists in dividing said film centrally as indicated by the dotted line 6 and placing onehalf of said matter or markings on each side of said line, as shown at 6 This will shorten the length of the film and may add to its width and the only essential change to produce the same properly on a sign will be to correspondingly arrange the wires a of the contacts a This form will be employed mostly in connection with the apertures e and is not ordinarily adopted for the other ways of marking the I film asthe parting line will appear on the device 7 unless exact relations between film and contacts are maintained which it is impossible to do when continuous lines, shown in Figs. 9 and 9, are contained by the film (1. In all of the above named ways of 120 marking the film (1 it will be understood that the same may be arranged in any de sired manner, and when one style of marking is selected for producing a particular moving picture on a film the same will be used throughout its length except where other subject-matter than said particular moving picture is desired. A short length of the film (1 so marked is shown in Fig. 8

At d the letter N is represented and at d? 139 size as well as its position on the film d I and at the same time gradually loses its'.

'5 For simplicitys sakeI haveshown a letter the said letter beginsto gradually change its equilibrium until at (Z the letter Z is formed.

in this figure, but it will be understood that an endless variety of design, motion and shading may be produced by means of this film, the only material difference between my film and the film' employed connection with the cinematograph, also known as the moving picture machine, being that while the latter selects rays of light, the film d selects electric circuits. In all cases of mark-v ing the film d a coatof liquid insulation is applied to the surface. of the .film, except the best results,

when. apertures are employed, as shown in Fig. 9*, and in the construction shown in Fig. 9 the sketch may be made by scratching off the said liquid insulation when dry.

Mounted beneath, and in connection with p the film d and between the wheel 03 and the tubular arm a is a contactbrush '6' with which is connected a'wire e The contact plate or may be adjusted in the arm a with respect to the film d by means of screws or bolts 6 which are passed through elongated slots 0 in the opposite sides of said arm to obtain exact relations between the said plate and definite parts of. the film d the relative position of which is fixed by the gear mechanism shown in F igs. 1, 2 and 5, which pro-v pelsit. In Fig. 14 of the drawing, I -have shown a diagrammatic view'of theelectric circuits, and have indicated, the operation of my. complete apparatus in a simple form, and in said figure I have shown at f an electrical, display device provided with-aplurality of lamps f and at f I have shown. a corre-- sponding number of magnets, and at f. the.

contact plate a having a corresponding number of contacts." The magnets which I- employ are particularly designed for use with my construction in order to produce and, consist of a coil f through which passes the usual core f hav-"' ing a pole piece f to which is secured a yoke-shaped frame F, and secured to the core f is the usual armature ,arm f and 5 secured to the frame f is a binding screw f? and an adjusting screw f and secured to but insulated from thecore f. is a spring .contact f, and securedto but insulated from a metal board f to which the magnets are secured is a sheetmetal facing f with which said spring contact f engage? In Fig. 14, I have also shown'the shaft 0' the brushes a. in contact therewith, and also the film d and film. wheel (i and in said figure I have shown th film 01 provided with three, projectionsfe similar to those shown in Fig. 9,'in contact with a plurality of contacts a and the wires a of said conjerks. and the flashers 0 0 and c thereon, and

tacts are connected to the binding screws f of acorresponding number of magnets to,

which are connected other wires 9 which are wound on said magnets to form coils fiandthe other ends of said wires are sebrush 0 of the flasher c 'as shown at g,

and with one brush a of the flasher c as shown at 9 and in said line or wire is placed a battery 9 The sheet metal facing f isalso provided with a wire g which is connected with the wire 9, as clearly shown, and connected with the binding scr'ews f of the magnets are other wires g which are connected with the lamps f and another wire 9 is connected with the lamps f and with one' brush of the flasher 0 as shown at 9 and the wire 6 connected with p the brush eis connected with one brush of the flasher c. The above wiring completes the circuits through the magnets, lamps, contact pieces, film and battery, and are governed on the flashers c 0 and 0 and by tracing these circuits it will be found that when the projections e on the film (i make contact with the contactsd the circuit through the magnets is first completed by the flasher 0 and said magnets close thecircuits to the "lamps by the flashers and 0 and by means of the flashers and magnets the lamps will remain illuminated during almost a complete revolution of the flashers,

althoughthe'contact between the projections e of the film d and contacts 0. is broken, and immediately after. the lamps go out the nextseries of projections will have advanced due to the rotation of the film wheel 03,

and the said series will make contact with the contacts or, and the lamps f will be again illuminated. .As above described in' the operation of the arm a which swings in the direction'of the arrow azof Fig. 1, said arm travels at the same speed as, and with, the film and returns to the position 'shown in Fig. 1 by means of the grooved cam 0*. The construction of the-groove of the camc is such as to cause the contacts a in the arm a to move with the film during a small partonly of the revolution of' the shaft 0 thus giving the arm a sufficient time to returfiwithout abrupt stops or The wires a in the arm a are necessarily very thin and light to present a minimum incumbrance to the oscillations of the arm and flasher F is interpolated between the battery g7 and the wire g to prevent an overload inthe wires a after the flasher c hasclosed its circuit and beforeflasher closes its circuits, at which time the lamp circuits would also be closed, across the wires 9 the wires a the film d", the flasher 0 the battery 9 and the wire 9 in the and the contacts of the magnets between the armature f and the frame f". The shaft 0' revolves at high speed and as the conducting facing a of the flashers 0 and c embraces nearly the whole circumference of the said flashers, the illumination of the display board I will appear to be continuous.

The operation is a follows :-The endless film d is moving continuously in the direc tion of the arrow 0%, and by means of the grooved. cam 0* the tubular arm a is given at predetermined intervals a movement in the same direction and at the same speed as the film and the plate I) presses the film against the plate a? at which time a series of lamps will become illuminated andf'will continue to be so by means of the magnets and flashers hereinbefore described and, as Will be readily understood, a moving picture or pictures similar to those produced by the hereinbefore mentioned moving picture machine may therefore be produced on the electrical display device f.

' In Fig. 15, I have shown a modification to be used when the apertures e in the film .03 are employed instead of the projections e and in place of the vertically movable plate I) I employ a vertically movable box-shaped member h in which are mounted a plurality of spring-operated pins b the number of which will correspond with the number of contacts a, and it will be understood that when. said box-shaped member h is in the position indicated by dotted lines in said' figure, the end of the pins 72, will--not engage the film d, but when in the full position, the

' pins 72. either engage the film or pass through the apertures e therein and make contact with the contacts a as clearly shown, and in this construction the wire e is connected with the box member k and not with the film, and the operation of the parts of the operating mechanism will be the same as that of the construction shown in Figs.

1, 2 and 14.

The pad 5 also shown as a brush in Figs.

16, 22 and 23, owing to the minute thickness of the film (Z forces each of the projections e, the raised lines 6 or the scratched ofi portions e, whichever case it may be, independently of each other a ainst the contacts I facing them. In case o apertures e the independently yielding elements are the pins k described above, the object in either case being to insure uniform contact between the opposing contact surfaces by rendering at least one of them resilient.

The reason for employing the flashers 05', 0 and 0 or like devices is to prevent the sparking at the contacts, and the magnets as well as to provide means for governing the opening and closing ofthe circuits.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the endless film (Z is passed around the fihn wheel d and around four guide wheels d as clearly shown, and in this construction only ashort film can be used practically as the lengthening of the same would necessitate the addition of other guide wheels (i which would take up considerable space if a film of five hundred or one thousand foot were used. It is therefore necessary and essential to employ a mechanism which will enable me to use an. endless film of any length with my construction.

IncFigs. 16 to 21 inclusive, I have shown a simple compact reel. mechanism for producing the desired result above referred to, and in Fig. 16, I have indicated the location of the contact plate a having the contacts a and the vertically movable plate I) z between the frame member a and the bar 2' is a gear or toothed wheel 71 having a hub portion provided with a groove z" in which is placed a belt i which is also passed around a pulley j secured to a shaft 7' supported in the frame member a, and secured to the shaft 7' adjacent to the pulley j is another pulley 7' around which is passed another belt j which is also passedaround a motor pulley not shown Secured to the outer end of the tubular shaft 11 is a friction wheelk having a sheet metal facing I0 and secured to the shaft 73 between the wheel k and the bar '5 is a contact block 70 having an insulating spot 70 on opposite sides of the said block, and supported by the bar 2' as shown at 7c are three brushes la", la and k". The brushes k, and k are adapted to engage the contact block lc while the brush 70 engages the shaft 71 as clearly shown in Fig. 21. Supported in the bar 2' is a magnet m, and pivoted to said bar adjacent to said magnet is an armature arm m havin a spring m adapted to normally hold the same in connection with stops m secured to the frame member a asclearly shown in Fig. 17, and secured to the bar 5 at m is a brush m adapted to engage a metal ring m se.- cured to the friction wheel k and having an electrical connection with the sheet metal facing k thereof as show at m in Fig. 21. The reels 2" and a? are exactly alike and consist of a central 'hub portion n approximately semi-spherical in cross section, as

clearly shown in Fig. 20, and circular side plate members n which form guides for the film d when wound thereon, and said side plate members n are provided with circular apertures n Pivoted to the outer side of said reel as shown at n is a plate a having at one end a circular head n which is adapted to operate in one of said apertures n and the other end ofsaid plate 11.? is provided with a smaller head 71,;

head a are operatin rods n which pass through and operate in apertures 1:. in the hub portion a of the reel and are connectedv with a plate n pivoted to the back of the reel as shown at n, and said plate 10, is also provided with a circular head a similar to the head 11, of the plate of. The heads n and n of the plates n and n extend inwardly to form circular members around which the film passes as hereinafter described. One corner of the semi-circular hub portion n is provided with a recess n in which is pivoted an L-shaped contact device 0, the head 0 of which is adapted toengage the sheet metal facing on the wheel is, and said device 0 is held in engagement with said facing by means of a spring 0 as clearly shown in Fig.19/ The back of the reel is also provided with a circular flange or rim n, and mounted on the shaft j is a. friction wheel 11, adapted to engage said rim portion and rotate said reel in the operation of the apparatus, as clearly shown in Fig. 17. v

Mounted adjacent to and above the reels 1;" and i is an oblong guide frame 0, the lower surface of which is cut out as shown at 0 to form guide grooves 0 clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 16, and the heads n of the plates n are adapted to operate in connection with said frame. 0 or the grooves o therein. Secured to the back of the hub portion of the reels 2" and and within the rim portion a. are brushes 0 and o -which bear on the shafts i and connected with said brushes and .the L-shaped devices 0 are wires p and p and connected with the brush m is a wire Y which is coiled around the magnet m, and connected to the brush k by a wire 32, and secured to the shaft 71 is'a wirep which is connected with a battery p, and a wire 32 is connected with said battery and with the contact 'block 10 and connected with the brush k is a wire pt which is also connected with both the shafts i and connected with the brush k is a wire 12 which is connected to a contact p adapted to engagethe armature arm m and another contact p which also engages said armature arm -1s provided with a wire 72 which is.

connected with the wire The above wiring is clearly shown in Fig. 21 and the object thereof is to govern the winding and un- Pivoted in the side, edge portions of the plate 11. adjacent to the Winding of the film on the reels 5 and 2' and, in Fig. 20, I have indicated the'direcwith the gear or toothed wheel 71 and is held there, circuit having been completed across the contacts 12 and p until the circuit is broken and the gear 6 which is continually rotating will carry with it the arm 11 which supports the reels i and 2' In the above operation of rotating the bar 2' with its connected parts the head n of the reel 71 engages the guide frame 0", or

v the grooves 0 therein and this depresses the plate a on said. reel which depression projects the circular heads 12. and n as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 18, and this permits the free passage of the film d", and by means of the construction of the grooves in the guide frame 0, the heads a and n will remain projected until the film has again passed between said heads after which the same retain the position shown in Fig. 18. The bar 7?;will continue its semirevolution until brush is has reached the insulated spot is on the block lc The rotation of the bar 2' will nowhave been stopped due to the breaking of the circuit in the wires 19* and 71 connected to the contacts 12 and p The reel i will now be rotated by means of the friction wheel n and the film in the beginning of this operation will assume the position shown in Fig. 20, in which position the film is passed around the heads n and n of the reel i and about to be'wo'und thereon, and in this position or in the beginning of the winding, the L-shaped arm 0 has been forced inwardly by said film and the head 0? thereof clears the facing 10 In the above operation of winding or unwinding the endless film, the same is continuously traveling in one direction and .by means of the spring-operated rollers r shown in Fig. 16, any number of which may be'employed, any slack in the film can be This I draws the armature arm m in engagement great advantage with my construction as well as with any other construction of a similar class with which the same may be used practically. But the winding device is subject to a separate application for Letters Patent, and I do not claim it herein except in combination.

The construction shown in Fig. 22 is the same in all respects as that shown in Fig. 14, exce t that I provide a supplemental contact Eoard a havinga plurality of contacts corresponding with the contacts on the contact plate a, and connected with the wires a which are connected with the contacts at are branch wires 8 connected with the contacts on the board 8, and connected with the wire 9 is a branch wire 8 and connected with the wire 9* at 8* is a branch wire 8 Connected with an electrical pencil s is a wire 8 which is also connected with the wire 9 and connected with the wire 8 is a branch wire having a contact 8 and connected to the ends of the wires 8 which correspond with the wire 9* in Fig. 14 are contacts 8 and mounted adjacent to the contacts 8 and s is a switch arm 8 adapted to engage the same, and mounted in the branch wires 8 and s is another switch arm 8. In the position of the switch arms 8 and 8 shown in full lines, the circuits through the wires to the flashers and contacts in the contact plate a are broken and the pencil 8 may be drawn over the contact board 8 in any manner to produce script or sketch work, and the contacts touched by the pencil s will illuminate a corresponding lamp on the display board f, as will be readily understood, and the same will remain illuminated by means of the magnets until the switch arms 8 and s are thrown into their dotted line position shown in Fig. 22, in which position mo"- ing pictures can be produced on said display board in the hereinbefore described manner, to wit: by causing the contacts a to engage continuously new blocks of the film (Z at exceedingly brief intervals, which engagement will transmit current from or through the said film to a number of the said contacts selected by the markings of the film and thus cause continuously new sets of the lamps f to light up in such order as to produce the illusion of a moving object on the display board f, provided the film (I has been so marked. Although this construction is not capable of the production on the device f of motion sufiicient to be properly classed among that of moving pictures of,

the scope .hereinbefore described andhereinafter claimed, it being limited to the lengthening and multiplication of lines, this .attachment will work to a great advantage at election time for example. The herein described moving pictures may be produced and at any desired moment the returns may also be produced along .with sketches and the like. It will be understood that the switch arms 8 and 8 must be manipulated script or sketch work can be produced with the switches s and 3 remaining in their dottedposition, as the flashers will not now break the circuits and the lamps caused to light up by the action of the pencil s will remain lighted until the desired script or sketch is completed.

In the construction shown in Figs. 23 and 24, I have shown means for producing tone or shade effects in a moving picture or moving pictures, which consists simply in the addition of complete-setsof magnets and contacts corresponding to the first set as well as complete films. In Fig. 23, I have indicated the lamps f flashers-'0 c and 0 and the contacts a, and the magnets of the first set, but. in said figure I have shown a simple form of magnet t, comprising a core t with the ends of which engage armature arms 25 and t, and connected to the armature arm 6 is a wire t which is connected with a'batteryt, and a wire 25 is connected with said battery and a brush engaging the flasher c and connected with another brush engaging said-flasher is a wire 25 which is also connected with the lamp ora plurality of lamps f and connected with said'lamp is a wire t the end of which is provided with a contact-2t adapted to engage the armature arm t At u I have shown another battery and connected therewith is a wire u which is coiled around the magnet t, and is connected with the contact a by the wire a a branch of which is provided with a contact u*, adapted to engage the armature arm t*, and connected with the battery u is another wire 8' a branch of which is connected with the switch arm 8 and connected with the switch contacts 8 are the wires 8 one of which is also con nected with one brush of the flasher c and connected with the other brush of said flasher is a wire u which is connected with the armature arm t and the other wire 8 is connected with one brush of the flasher 0 and the other brush of said flasher is provided with a wire u which is connected with the film.

The above wiring completes the circuit of one complete apparatus similar to that shown in Fig. ll providingthe switch arms 8 and s are in their dotted position, and

to produce said tone or shade effects I simply add to the wire t a branch in which I place a resistance coil 'v, and attach a branch wire to the wires 1 ,10 u and t and another magnet t, contact a and film (Z and it will be understood that the greater number of these branches the greater number of shade effects will be produced, and in Figs. 23 and 24, I have shown a construction adapted to produce three shades, as clearly indicated in Fig. 24. In said figure I have shown three series of lamps w, 10 and w. and it will be undeistood that the lamps 11' of the main apparatus, a corresponding number of magnets and a corresponding number of contacts and a resistance coil. The function performed by the flasher 0 in this construction is the closing and opening of the lamp circuits which in this instance are separated from the magnetic circuits. In Fig. 23 I have shown also the means for producing script, including the pencil a connected with the battery to by the wire 8, the contact a connected with" the wire a by the branch wire 8 the switch arm 8 connected with the wires t and t by the branch wires 8 and s and the switch'arm s also connected with the wire 8 and leading to one brush of each of the flashers c and c as described above, across its contacts 8 and the wires 8 In addition, I have shown in that figure the endless film passed around the film wheel (Z around the guide wheels (Z and the reel mechanism comprising the reels i and 2' with their respective plates a the heads n of which are adapted to engage the frame 0, the toothed wheel 2", the friction wheel 73' and the driving. friction wheel a.

Although the film-controlled part of my apparatus is particularly adapted for 'the production of moving pictures, a series of fixed pictures or other advertising matter may be flashed on the display board by placing a different design on each block of the film and by revolving the main shaft slowly or intermittently, as will be understood.

Fixed pictures or the like may also be produced with the said shaft revolving at full speed by simply providing successive blocks of the film with one and the same design. Script work may also be produced by the film-controlled apparatus in the very same manner as the ordinary moving picture machine performs that, feature.

It will be understood that the contacts on the contact plate or contact board are very small as are also the markin s of the film, and in Figs. 2 and 3, I have tried to indicate their proportionate size, and'while I have shown the apparatus as driven by motor power, it will be understood that the same may be turned by hand, if desired, by employing a crank which is not shown Although I have shown and described one .ture or moving pictures with shade effects said' terminals for selectingv said form of apparatus to produce a moving pican ordinary moving picture machine employing a film adapted to be wound and re- Wound, or the said apparatus may be constructed in any desired manner within the scope of the appended claims.

. Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is Y 1. An apparatus of the class described involving means for producingpictures on a display surface and means for simultaneously producing script or sketch work on said display surface.

2. The combination of a display board, a

plurality of current receiving devices, rality of contacts, ing in one direction, and means for engaging said selector with said contacts during a pluits movement in said direction to admit elec-,

tric current to a selection from among said contacts for energlzing .said devices so as to produce a picture on said board, with means member engaging said selector on the opposing side, means for transmitting current a. circuit selector movfor holding'said picture or the like on said I through or across the conducting parts of said selector from one of said members to the other for energizing a selection from among said devices and means excluding said members for sustaining the energization of said devices.

4. In an electric display apparatus, a pair of plates reciprocating together and a circuit selector passing between and in the direction of the reciprocations ofsaid'plates. 5. In an electric display apparatus, a tra-velingcircuit.selector and a plurality of contacts separate therefrom and arranged to travel with said selector. I 6. In an electric display apparatus, a reciprocating conducting surface, a conduct ing surface formed by a plurality of resilient elements in circuit, and reciprocating.- with said first named surface and a circuit selector passing between, and in the direction of the reciprocations of, said surfaces.

7. In an apparatus of-i the class described, plurality of reciprocating contacts and a circuit selectortraveling in the direction of the reciprocations of said contacts.

8. In an electric display apparatus, a'plurality of circuits; reciprocating terminals for said circuits and a member engaging circuits during the reciprocation of said terminals.

9. In an electric display apparatus, a plurality of magnets, a plurality of contacts, means for admitting current to a selection from among said contacts to energize a selection from among said magnets and means for preventing sparking at said contacts and said magnets.

10. In an electric display apparatus, means controlled by an endless tape for producing a picture or the like with shade effects, on a display surface, means for winding said tape, and ,means for producing script or sketch work on said board.

11. The combination of a plurality of current receiving devices, and a, reciprocating contact plate having a plurality of contacts,

with a circuit selector passed around a plurality of wheels and admitting electric current to successive selections from among said contacts to energize said devices.

12. The combination of a display board, a plurality of indicators, and a contact plate having a plurality of contacts, with a series ofcircuitselectors passed around a plurality of .wheels and moving in one'direction, and means for engaging constantly new selectors from among said. series with said contacts during the movement in said direction of said series to produce contrast among said indicators in such manner that script or sketch work under process of construction will be produced on said board.

13. The combination of a display board, a group of indicators, and a plurality of magnets, with means for energizing a selection from said magnets'to operate said indicators so as to produce a picture on said board with shade eflects in said picture.

14. The combination of a display-board, a plurality of-current receiving devices, a

- plurality of contacts and a series of circuit selectors, with means for engaging constantly new selectors from among said series with said contacts so as to'admit curdicators, with a 'plurality of contacts, a cir-' cuit selector traveling in one direction and engaging said contacts to admit current during its travel in said direction to such contacts as will change the appearance of a sufficient number" of said indicators for representing a picture by their change, and means for preventing sparking at said contacts.

16. In an electric display apparatus, a plurality of circuits, reciprocating terminals for said circuits, means for admitting current to a selection fromamong said circuits during the reciprocation of said terminals.

17. In an electric display apparatus, a plate reciprocating in cross directions.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, a plate describing a circle.

19. The combination of. a display surface formed by a plurality of alike parts, with a plurality of electromagnets, at least one for each'of said parts, means for energizing a number of said electromagnetsto close circuits, said closing causing the production of temporary. contrast among said parts, said contrast producing a picture, and means for preventing all sparking at said electromagnets.

20. The combination of a display surface formed by a plurality of similar parts, with a plurality of magnets, a plurality ofcontacts, at least one for .each of said parts, means for admitting current to a number of said contacts to energize said magnets for closing circuits, said closing actuating a stronger current for causing a temporary production of contrast among said parts, said contrast producing a picture, andmeans for preventing all sparking at said contacts.

21. In an electric display apparatus, means for producing pictures with shade effects on a display surface and manual means for producing script or sketch work on said surface.

22. The combination of a plurality of indicators, with means for producing contrast among said indicators, said contrast producing a half tone pictur 23. In an electric display apparatus, a pair of reciprocating plates and a circuit selector adapted to pass between said plates.

"24.'The combination ofa display surface formed by a plurality of alike parts, with a plurality of magnets, at least one for each of said parts, a plurality of contacts, automatic means "for admitting current to said contacts to energize said magnets, said energizatibn producing contrast among said arts said contrast roducin a icture and 7 D 7 means'including said magnets but excluding said contacts for prolonging said contrast.

25.- The combination of a plurality of indicators, with a contact surface formed by a group of contacts, automatic means for admitting current to a part of said surface to I produce contrast among said indicators, said j contrast produclng a plcture, and means excluding said contacts for prolonging said picture. 7 I

26. The combination of a plurality of indicators, with a filmadapted tov be passed around a plurality of wheels, means con trolled by said film for producing contrast among said indicators, said contrast producing a picture, and means excluding said film for prolonging said contrast.

27. The combination of a plurality; of indicators, with a plurality of contacts, and a series of clrcult selectors each admltting current to a number of said contacts, said current actuating a stronger current for producing contrast among said indicators, said contrast producing apicture.

28. The combination of a plurality of indicators, with a plurality of contacts, and a series of moving circuit selectors forming a procession and admitting current during said movement to such of saidcontacts as will produce contrast among said indicators and thereby produce an image of an object various parts of. which move in various directions.

29 The combination of a plurality of indicators with a traveling film and means controlled by said film during its travel for producing contrast among said indicators, said contrast producing a picture moving in various directions.

30. An apparatus of the class described,

involvingelectric means for producing pictures on a display surface and manually operated electric means for producing script or 15 

